CARE Not Cuts - Why Medicaid & Planned Parenthood Matter

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In this episode, Lauren Blauvelt (Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio) is joined by Dr. Bhavik Kumar (Chief Medical Officer at Planned Parenthood Great Ohio) and Erica Wilson-Domer (President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio) to discuss the looming threat to Medicaid expansion in Ohio. A recently passed budget bill could strip healthcare coverage from 800,000 Ohioans, disproportionately impacting low-wage workers, students, and people with disabilities—groups often misrepresented in political debates. The speakers dismantle myths about Medicaid recipients, noting that many are employed or rely on the program for long-term care, not "handouts."

The conversation highlights the cascading effects of Medicaid cuts: reduced access to preventive care (like cancer screenings and STI testing) would force more people into emergency rooms, straining hospitals and driving up costs for everyone. The panel also pushes back against misinformation about Planned Parenthood, clarifying that federal funds do not pay for abortions but instead support critical services like contraception and chronic disease management.

A urgent call to action closes the discussion: listeners are encouraged to contact their representatives—particularly Ohio’s Republican senators—to oppose the cuts. The panel stresses that healthcare is a human right, and protecting Medicaid is both an economic and moral imperative. The episode ends with a rallying cry for collective advocacy to ensure equitable access for future generations.